Life’s not a two-step. It’s a whole dance floor

Some chapters of life feel like a gentle, graceful waltz. Others feel more like a fast-paced, dramatic tango. And sometimes, during life’s many transitions, we find ourselves dancing to a rhythm that no longer excites us. That’s your cue: it’s time to change the music.

We are not meant to tiptoe through the expanded version of midlife. And we’re not meant to repeat the same predictable steps in retirement, year after year. Life at this stage is far too rich for that. It’s filled with freedom and variety. It’s marked by transition after transition. The most powerful gift we can give ourselves in this chapter of life is to decide how we want to move through it – to keep checking in with ourselves, with our dreams, and what matters most.

This month, we hosted a Retire Successfully workshop in Cape Town – a room filled with 35 people aged between 50 and 80. Some were long retired, others just beginning to imagine what retirement might look like, and a few were navigating the unpredictability of midlife. The transitions were as varied as the people themselves.

One couple was struggling with the decision to move into a retirement village – one partner ready to embrace it, and the other not quite there yet. Some were adjusting to empty nests, moving cities, or looking for a fresh perspective on retirement. Others were dreaming of starting something new. One woman told me she keeps Midlife Money Makeover on her nightstand, calling it her “transition bible.”

But what struck me most wasn’t the variety of transitions or ages – it was the generosity in the room. When people open up and share their stories, something shifts. Those who have walked through difficult changes offer light to those just beginning. The wisdom flows both ways. Everyone leaves with a fresh insight, a new idea, or the reassurance that they’re not alone.

There’s no one way to navigate retirement. No formula. No choreography that works for everyone. But what I do know is this: we all need to check in with ourselves regularly and ask:

Am I still living the life I want to live – right now? What brings me joy? What have I been postponing?

Your best life at 60 might not be the same as your best life at 70. What brought you joy a year ago may not inspire you today. And what worked during the first few years of retirement may now need a new perspective.

So next time you wonder, “Is this it?” or are ready to try some new moves, listen to the rhythm that feels right for you. This is your invitation to keep showing up for yourself. Join us at our next workshop, check in with your planner, or have lunch with someone younger or older to share stories, inspire each other, and keep learning together.

The music may change, but the invitation remains: show up, be present, and live fully.